Body-bolster for cars



(No Model.)

H. G. WILLIAMSON. BODY BOLS'IBR r011 (JARS.

No. 580,204. Pateni zed Apr. 6, 1897.

Zf y

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY C. YVILLIAMSON, OF MICHIGAN CITY, INDIANA.

BODY-BOLSTER FOR CARS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 580,204, dated April 6, 1897.

Application filed December 16, 1896. Serial No. 615,946. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY QWILLIAMsON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Michigan City, in the county of La Porte and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Body-Bolsters for Cars; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to a novel construction in a body-bolster for freight-cars, the object being to provide a cheap, durable, and emcient device of this description; and it consists in the features of construction and combinations of parts hereinafter fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, illustrating my invention, Figure 1 is a horizontal section of one side of a body-bolster constructed in accordance with my invention, taken on the line 1 1 of Fig. 3. Fig. 2 is a similar section showing a slight modification in the construction and forming in effect the other half of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a vertical transverse section through the sills on the line 3 3 of Figs. 1 and 2, showing the bolster in elevation. Figs. 4 and 5 are vertical sections of the bolster,taken on the lines 4 4 and 5 5, respectively, ofv Figs. 1 and 2.

My invention consists, essentially, in providing a body-bolster in which the middle struts between the tension and compression members extend continuously between'the end struts, the draft-beams being divided at this point and held in pockets in said middle struts by means of tension-bolts.

Referring now to said drawings, A indicates a bolster constructed in accordance with my invention, which consists of a tension member 1 and a compression member 2, extending below said tension member 1 and secured thereto at its outer end portions by means of rivets 3, and end struts l and middle struts 5 and 6,secured between said tension and compression members 1 and 2. Said tension and compression members 1 and 2 consist, preferably, of wrought-iron or steel plates, while said struts consist, preferably, of malleableiron castings, having outwardly-extending flanges 7, through which the rivets 8 pass to secure said struts to said tension and compression members 1 and 2. Said end struts 4 consist of flanged plates mounted between said members 1 and 2 between the outer end portions of the same-and are wedge-shaped, so that their lower edges will fit the inclined portions of said member 2. Said middle struts 5 and 6 extend between the middle parallel portions of said members 1 and 2 and at their ends abut against the inner ends of said end struts 4. Said middle strut 5 is provided with a web 8 consisting of longitudinal portions 9- and 12 and transverse portions 11 and 13, which, together with the flanges 10, form pockets 14, in which the inner ends of the draft-beams are adapted to be received. Said strut 6 varies slightly from said strut 5, inasmuch as the portion 12 of the web thereof extends only between the portions 13 of said web, and portions 16 are provided, which extend between the portions 11 and 13 adjacent the outer edges of said flanges 10, thus forming shallow pockets 17, in which the ends of the abutting beams 18 are adaptedv to be received. Said portions 12 of said webs of said middle struts 5 and 6 abut against each other and thus divide the strain upon the rivets from a thrust among all the rivets holding both said struts 5 and 6. Said middle struts 5 and 6 are secured between said parallel middle portions of said members 1 and 2 by means of the rivets 19. To obtain greater strength where the said end and middle struts meet, I provide plates 20, which overlap the ends of the flanges of said middle and end struts and are secured by means of rivets 21, which pass through said plates 20, the flanges of said struts, and the members 1 and 2. The center plate 22 is secured to said member 2. The said plate obviously serves to strengthen the middle portion of said bolster and is secured thereto by means of bolts 23, which pass through said members 1 and 2, through the draft-beams, and through the sills. As this is the usual manner of securing said center plate, I have not shown the said bolts 23 in 'full length. To hold said draft-beams 15 firmly within said pockets 14, I have provided tension-bolts 24:, the outer end portions of which are flat and are secured to outer faces of said draft-beams by means of the bolts 25, which pass through said draft-beams.

, The outermost ends 26 of said. end portions of said bolts are bent at an angle of ninety degrees thereto and are adapted to enter gains or pockets 27 in said draft-beams. The inner rounded ends 28 of said tension-bolts pass through openings 29 in the end portions 90E said middle struts and through anchors 30, adapted to engage the inner edges of said members 1 and 2 and the flanges of said struts. At their inner ends said portions 28 of said bolts are screw-threaded and are adapted to receive nuts 31, by means of which their tension is adjusted.

In Fig. 2 I have shown another and equally advantageous construction, in which I secure brackets 32 to the abutting beams 18 by means of bolts 33 and by providing gains or pockets 34 in said abutting beams, in which the flanges 35 on said brackets are adapted to fit. The screw-threaded ends of said portions 28 of said tension-bolts are adapted to pass through openings in said brackets and the nuts 31 then slipped over said ends and the bolts thus drawn to the required tension. In this manner it will be obvious that both the draft-beams and the abutting beams will be drawn into the pockets in said middle struts and that the draft on said end portions 15 will be transmitted to said abutting beams 18 and thence again to said other draft beams 15, so that all parts of said draftbeams will be acted upon equally and in the same manner as if they were continuous.

I claim as my invention 1. A body-bolster comprising a tension member and a compression member, end struts mounted between the end portions of said tension and compression members, and middle struts situated between said end struts and provided with pockets adapted to receive the ends of the draft-beams.

2. A body-bolster comprising tension and compression members, end struts mounted between said members, middle struts mounted between said end struts, the webs of said middle struts being adapted to form pockets between the flanges thereof in which the ends the ends of the draft-beams and the abutting.

beams, and means for holding said ends of said draft-beams and abutting beams within said pockets and in close contact with said webs.

4. A body-bolster comprising a tension member and a compression member, end

struts mounted between the end portions of said tension and compression members, middle struts situated between said end struts and providedwith'pockets adapted to receive the ends of the draft-beams and abutting beams, and means for holding said ends of said draft-beams and abutting beams within said pockets and in close contact with said webs consisting of tension-bolts securedto said draft-beams and abutting beams and passing through openings in said middle struts of said bolster.

5. A body-bolster comprising a tension member and a compression member, and

struts mounted between the end portions of,

said tension and compression members, middle struts situated between said end struts and provided with pockets adapted to receive the ends of the draft-beams, and means for holding said ends of said draft-beamswithin said pockets and in close contact with said webs consisting of tension-bolts secured at one end to said draft-beams and engaging the opposite side of said bolster.

In testimony wheredf I aifi'x my signatu in presence of two witnesses.

HENRY O. WILLIAMSON. Witnesses:

E. J. BoILnAu, RUDOLPH WM. Lorz. 

